Best of Myles (Harper Perennial Modern Classics) - Softcover

O’Brien, Flann

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0007247184 ISBN 13: 9780007247189

Publisher: Harper Perennial, 2007

Synopsis

Under the pseudonym Myles na Gopaleen, Flann O’ Brien wrote a daily column in the ‘Irish Times’ called ‘Cruiskeen Lawn’ for over twenty years which hilariously satirised the absurdities and solemnities of Dublin life.

With shameless irony and relentless high spirits Myles' 'Cruiskeen Lawn' became the most feared, respected and uproarious newspaper column in the whole of Ireland from its first appearance in 1940 until his death in 1966.

This wonderful selection from the 'Cruiskeen Lawn' columns is a modern classic that will appeal to lovers of absurdity and sharp comic observation everywhere.

About this title

Review:

‘Dublin was O'Brien's ground – its talk, whether official bombast, idle pub chat or literary pretentiousness, his medium and his target. Mastery of syntax enabled him to turn plain language to music, while a merciless clarity of mind exposed the comic absurdity of 'those items of mortified language' which are the conversational coin of his Dubliners. A very funny book.’ Sunday Times

‘All those man-years of attendance at Grogan's and the Dolphin filled O'Brien's remarkable 'ear-cup' with curiosa of Dublin talk. A priceless estate-sale of alien and gorgeous vocabulary. Timeless.’ Nicholson Baker

‘Brilliant, morosely inventive comic turns devoted to O'Brien's favourite topics: the literary life, the Gaelic Revival, civil service bureaucracy, booze and its discontent.’ Observer

‘“The Best of Myles” is likely to endure as long as the philosopher's stone, and may indeed be the said article. Readers of taste and perception will pack it in their kitbags long before glancing at the likes of Barthes, Foucault and Umberto Eco.’ Listener

About the Author:

Flann O’Brien was one of the many pseudonyms of Brian O’Nolan, author of the classic novel ‘At Swim-
Two-Birds’ and, under the name Myles na Gopaleen, writer of a celebrated satirical column in the Irish Times which appeared daily for almost thirty years. Highly praised by Samuel Beckett and James Joyce, amongst others, O’Brien is regarded as one of the great comic writers of the twentieth century. He died in 1966.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harper Perennial
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 0007247184
• ISBN 13: 9780007247189
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 400